Colonial Heights offers new recreational programs for those with special needs

Monday

Feb 5, 2018 at 5:48 PMFeb 5, 2018 at 5:48 PM

Recreation and Parks hiree brings new initiative to the region

Kelsey Reichenberg Staff Writer @KRProgressIndex

COLONIAL HEIGHTS — The Colonial Heights Recreation and Parks Department is now offering a series of new recreational programs for those with special needs, ranging but not limited to intellectual, physical, emotional or developmental disabilities.

The first of their kind for the residents of Colonial Heights, the series of programs targets all five of the human senses. Activities range from creative arts, adaptive exercises, interactive bingo, sensory stimulation, social hours, music therapy, and animal therapy. Therapeutic Recreation (TR) uses recreational activities (such as art, games or dance) to help people with disabilities to improve their physical, cognitive and social skills. For example, doing a craft activity might help a child to build fine motor skills while also giving him or her an opportunity to think creatively and have fun with peers.

Ashley “AJ” Barksdale, the orchestrator behind the new series of programs, is a Certified Therapeutic Recreational Therapist through the state of Virginia and was hired by the city’s Recreation and Parks Department a year and a half ago. She came into the department with a dream in mind — to create a safe place where she could offer fun recreational activities for those with special needs.

“When I was hired by Colonial Heights Recreation and Parks, my background was in therapeutic recreation, but more so in the nursing home environment working with people with Alzheimer's and dementia,” Barksdale said. “So when I got into general recreation, I knew I wanted to do something that would tap into my medical roots. I saw that the department didn’t offer therapeutic recreation programs, so I began meeting with different community groups and school officials to assess the need for it.”

As Barksdale sought to initiate the program, she began meeting with school officials, the special education advisory board, support groups, and the local Kiwanis Club to share her ideas and receive feedback. In addition to receiving positive feedback, several members of the groups she had met with, students from the high school and Virginia State University, parents, and community members quickly signed up to volunteer in the new initiative.

Whenever someone new joins the program, the participant’s family members are introduced to the staff and volunteers, where they are able to address any questions or concerns. Each participant also has his or her own “participant profile” which identifies any recreational barriers the individual may experience during the programs’ activities. Paid staff are trained in working with individuals with disabilities, and volunteers undergo specific training courses based on each activity.

“We go as in depth as possible,” said Barksdale. “I want families to feel comfortable and safe, and know that their loved one is with a group who understands and knows what they’re doing.”

Each therapeutic recreation program is held from 5:30 - 7 p.m. on Wednesday nights at the Colonial Heights Community Center. The activities are offered to all ages and are not limited to Colonial Heights residents, as Barksdale notes that they’ve already had multiple participants from Dinwiddie County, Prince George County, Chester and beyond.

Those who are interested may obtain information from the Recreation and Parks Department office located at Shepherd Stadium, or online at www.colonialheightsva.gov under the “therapeutic recreation” section. Participants are able to sign up for classes at the office, at the start of a class, or online under the aforementioned section. Certain classes cost $3.

With the new series of programs off to a successful start, Barksdale is already looking ahead and creating new, additional goals for helping those with special needs.

“My long-term goal is to incorporate inclusion into the community,” Barksdale said. “These special populations are offered programs in school, so I feel they should be able to participate in recreational programs outside of school, too.”

She added, “I also hope to eventually offer a therapeutic recreation summer camp.”

• Kelsey Reichenberg may be reached at kreichenberg@progress-index.com or 804-722-5109.

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